Reviewer
Lavanya Karthik: Lavanya is from Mumbai, India and is a licensed
architect and consultant in environmental management. She lives in
Mumbai with her husband and six-year old daughter. She loves reading
and enjoys a diverse range of authors across genres.

By Lavanya Karthik

Published on October 4, 2012

Author: Artie Bennett

Illustrator: Mike Moran

Publisher: Blue Apple Books

ISBN: 978-160905190-7

Author: Artie Bennett

Illustrator: Mike Moran

Publisher: Blue Apple Books

ISBN: 978-160905190-7

The Tao of Poo revealed!

In 2010, Artie Bennett
gave us his hilarious classic, ‘The Butt Book’, an
irreverent ode to that much ignored body part. He now returns
with what is, quite literally, his ‘number two’ book -
’Poopendous’ , best described by its own byline, ‘The
inside scoop on every type and use of poop.’ Mike Moran’s
colourful illustrations are zany, and a terrific complement to
Artie’s rib-tickling prose.

Much like its cheeky
predecessor, Poopendous is whacky, inventive and a laugh riot
from go. On page one, we meet our genial narrator, Professor
Pip Poopdeck ( emerging, rather appropriately, from an outhouse),
expert on a subject most folks would find icky-poo. ‘To read
this book’, he cautions. ‘You must be strong. Just hold your nose
and come along!’ What follows is a whirlwind tour though the animal
world, and a close look at the one routine that every creature in it
has in common – “..from aardvarks to the humped zebu.”

Why shy away, Poopdeck
asks, from something so natural, so diverse, (and so conducive
to rhyme) . And why be scared of something that can actually be
put to use – as fuel, as construction material, even jewelry. From
farmers to Masai tribesman to Mongol
yurt-dwellers, people around the world have come to appreciate
the wonders of poop. Thanks to Artie Bennett, we now join
the enlightened.

One small quibble -
I found no mention of two especially innovative uses of poop -
jumbo poo paper and biogas . But don’t let that stop you picking up
‘Poopendous’ for a few good belly laughs.